If you’re a farmer you will realise how much fuel you use on your machinery alone. With fuel prices rising steadily, farmers need to make savings wherever possible. Here are a few measures farmers can take to reduce their fuel consumption.

Tyres – save up to 15% on fuel

Tyre pressure needs to be set according to the axle load and the driving speed. Use a low tyre pressure in the field and a high tyre pressure on the road. Reducing tyre pressures in the field reduces the tractive power demand as well as the track depth and soil compaction, while using a high tyre pressure on the road reduces the rolling resistance. Tyre inflation systems for tractors and trailer help to adapt the pressure as circumstances demand.

Adaptive Driving– save up to 20% on fuel

A large constant power facilitates fuel-saving driving. Fuel consumption is on the lowest level at the speed of ca. 1.300 – 1.700 rpm. The higher the engine speed, the more diesel is used up.

Maintenance of tractor – save up to 10% on fuel

Maintenance is an important requirement for optimal transformation of fuel energy into mobile energy. With poor maintenance there may not be enough air in the fuel-air-mixture (recognisable by smoke and loss of power). By optimally lubricating the motor and the gear, friction losses can be reduced. Pay attention to the ease of maintenance when buying a tractor.

Crop growing – save up to 25% on fuel

Improving soil structure reduces the demand for traction during crop growing. A complicated soil requires more engine power and fuel. Choose the optimal point of time (water content) for working to reduce soil compaction, minimise the number of treatments required.

This article was written by Brian Madden; Online Marketing Assistant at Crown Oil